Respiratory Therapy Pathway
Respiratory Therapists assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. They assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Respiratory Therapists initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures, maintain patient records; select, assemble, check, and operate the equipment. They also may serve as asthma educators, patient educators, case managers, Hyperbaric Oxygen Specialists, Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation Specialists, and Sleep Specialists. Respiratory Therapists work in hospitals, clinics, skilled nursing facilities, home care, and diagnostic labs.
The Importance of Respiratory Therapists
Respiratory Therapists are required to exercise considerable, independent clinical judgment in the care of patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders. They consult with physicians and other health care professionals to help develop and modify patient care plans.
The primary duties of a Respiratory Therapist include:
- Assessing and treating patients with breathing disorders
- Supervising Respiratory Therapy Therapists
- Initiating and conducting therapeutic procedures
- Maintaining patient records
- Selecting, assembling and operating equipment
Why become a Respiratory Therapist?
- The median annual wage for respiratory therapists was $62,810 in May 2020.*
- Employment of respiratory therapists is projected to grow 23 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.*
- Respiratory Therapists work in a variety of healthcare settings including state, local and private hospitals, nursing care facilities and physician offices.*
*Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Program Locations
Find your region below and click to expand to find out about program length, prerequisites and more:
Online - All Regions
Provider: San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC)
Bachelor of Science Degree Program in Respiratory Therapy (BSRT)
Program length: 65 weeks
Prerequisites: Hold a current Associate of Science Degree in Respiratory Therapy (RRT), awarded by a regionally or nationally accredited institution with a CoARC or CAAHEP accredited program Hold a current credential as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), and current unencumbered licensure as a Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) in California or in the state of current employment.
Provider: PIMA Medical Institute
Bachelor of Science Degree Program in Respiratory Therapy (BSRT)
Program length: 16 months (full-time) or 30 months (part-time)
Prerequisites: High School Diploma or GED. Must currently be a Registered Respiratory Therapist. Transfer of 71 credits with a C or better in 44 respiratory therapy (technical) and 12 related credits from a regionally or nationally (WASC) accredited institution.
This program consists of an online, asynchronous classroom format with weekly assignments available in all regions.
Technical Requirements Note: Chromebooks cannot be used for this program.
Northern California - Rancho Cordova
Provider: San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC)
Associate of Science Degree Program in Respiratory Therapy (ASRT)
Program length: 80 weeks
Prerequisites: Applicant must be in good health and physically fit. High School diploma or state issued GED. Applicant must be age 18 by his/her expected graduation date. Applicants are selected based on points earned in an evaluation process that includes assessment, transcript review, professional reference, and personal interview.
Southern California - North Hollywood, Garden Grove, San Bernardino
Provider: Concorde Career Colleges (CCC)
Associate of Science Degree Program in Respiratory Therapy (ASRT)
Program length: 70 weeks
Prerequisites: High school transcript or evidence of satisfactory completion of GED. Pass online readiness assessment. Pass entrance exams (Wonderlic & A/P). Pass a background (LiveScan) check.
Central California - Bakersfield
Provider: San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC)
Associate of Science Degree Program in Respiratory Therapy (ASRT)
Program length: 80 weeks
Prerequisites: Applicant must be in good health and physically fit. High School diploma or state issued GED. Applicant must be age 18 by his/her expected graduation date. Applicants are selected based on points earned in an evaluation process that includes assessment, transcript review, professional reference, and personal interview.
Colorado - Aurora
Provider: Concorde Career Colleges (CCC)
Associate of Science Degree Program in Respiratory Therapy (ASRT)
Program length: 70 weeks
Prerequisites: High school transcript or evidence of satisfactory completion of GED. Pass online readiness assessment. Pass entrance exams (Wonderlic & A/P). Pass a background (LiveScan) check.
Oregon - Portland
Provider: Concorde Career Colleges (CCC)
Associate of Science Degree Program in Respiratory Therapy (ASRT)
Program length: 70 weeks
Prerequisites: High school transcript or evidence of satisfactory completion of GED. Pass online readiness assessment. o Pass entrance exams (Wonderlic & A/P). Pass a background (LiveScan) check.
Program status
We appreciate your interest in the Education Fund’s programs and services. We have received a tremendous response to our education and training programs and have reached our enrollment limit for many of our current programs. As a result, we are not accepting applications for this Education Fund program. (We may have limited availability for members in the Northwest, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico and we encourage you to login to MyEdFund to check availability.)
We anticipate a high level of interest and limited availability again in 2023, and we encourage you to create an individualized educational plan for 2023 with your Career Counselor/Regional Coordinator. You can make an appointment via MyEdFund, our secure, online member portal.